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Camping near Saylorville Lake

531 Reviews

Saylorville Lake in central Iowa features multiple Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds with diverse accommodation options, including Cherry Glen, Prairie Flower, and Bob Shetler Recreation Areas. Most campgrounds provide electric hookups, while some include full water and sewer connections. The region supports tent camping, RV sites with concrete pads, and limited cabin opportunities at Jester County Park. Campgrounds are strategically positioned around the lake, offering varying levels of water access and proximity to Des Moines, approximately 15 miles to the south.

Reservations are strongly recommended during the peak season from May through October, particularly for weekend stays. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, with Prairie Flower open May 1 to October 20 and Cherry Glen available from mid-April through mid-October. Electric hookups (30/50 amp) are standard at most sites, though water hookups are limited. Most campgrounds feature modern restrooms, dump stations, and paved pads at select sites. Visitors should plan for potential wait times at dump stations on busy Sundays. According to one camper, "Trying to leave on a Sunday is a good 1 hour wait... I hate going there knowing that instead of getting to enjoy Sunday - I'll be busy draining my pooper."

Concrete pad sites in Prairie Flower's loops B, C, and D are particularly sought after for their level setup and lake views. Campers consistently rate these Army Corps campgrounds between 4 and 5 stars, noting the cleanliness of facilities and spaciousness between sites. Sites with shade are prized during summer months, with several visitors mentioning the importance of tree cover. The campgrounds connect to regional bike trails that extend to Des Moines and surrounding suburbs, providing recreational opportunities beyond the lake itself. Several campers mentioned the quality of fishing access, especially near the dam and spillway at Bob Shetler Recreation Area. For those seeking more seclusion, sites along the backside of Cherry Glen's western loops (sites 111-116 and 72-78) offer superior lake views and proximity to shower facilities.

Map showing campgrounds near Saylorville Lake, IowaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Saylorville Lake (107)

    1. Jester County Park

    30 Reviews
    Granger, IA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 323-5300

    $20 - $25 / night

    "The view at campsite 4 was great overlooking Saylorville Lake. Great for families."

    "The County has invested a lot of resources into this park making it a great place to stay when enjoying the fun at Saylorville Lake."

    2. Prairie Flower Recreation Area

    17 Reviews
    Polk City, IA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 984-6925

    $20 - $336 / night

    "The Prarie Flower campground at Saylorville Lake is an open, flat grassy campground near wooded trails around the US Army Corps of Engineers land."

    "It is clean and well maintained with lots to do at Saylorville Lake. There are several Recreation areas nearby that don't allow camping, making Prairie Flower a perfect place to stay."

    3. Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground

    15 Reviews
    Johnston, IA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (515) 276-0873

    $22 - $26 / night

    "Near Saylorville lake for all that stuff. Dump station and water fill in the back."

    "We stayed here for two nights while visiting family nearby. It’s a pretty location with the dam and waterway right there. The sites are well spaced."

    4. Cherry Glen Campground

    13 Reviews
    Johnston, IA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (515) 964-8792

    $24 - $26 / night

    "Above average overall for central Iowa. Views of Saylorville Lake. Plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. It’s a large park and some sites are close together, but generally spacious. Good cell service."

    "Lots of RV sites around. The whole area around Saylorville Lake has camping. Lush green plots of land everywhere. I forget how pretty it is in the Midwest when I'm gone for so long."

    5. Acorn Valley

    11 Reviews
    Polk City, IA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 276-0429

    $14 - $84 / night

    "Great find on our way through Iowa. Clean and spacious. Very quiet, just listen to the frogs at night."

    "Booked an outer ring site surrounded by trees (and some pretty bold raccoons around bonfire time ;) )."

    6. Griffs Valley View RV Park

    11 Reviews
    Bondurant, IA
    9 miles
    Website

    $35 - $90 / night

    "Has a cute pond and is adjacent to a bike and running trail. The main lodge has very clean restrooms and showers with hot water! Recommended"

    "There is also a very nice bike trail right outside the park."

    7. Ledges State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Boone, IA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 432-1852

    $12 - $25 / night

    "One of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there."

    "One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."

    8. Walnut Woods State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    West Des Moines, IA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 285-4502

    $23 - $25 / night

    "There's a boat camp, a bird watching area, a playground, plany of park space with picnic tables and BBQ pits, hiking and biking trails, and even a lodge that I assume can be rented for events."

    "Walnut Woods is conveniently located 25 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. Sites are paved and mostly level, although we did have to throw a couple of blocks under one side of our TT tires."

    9. Timberline Campground

    13 Reviews
    West Des Moines, IA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 987-1714

    $35 - $80 / night

    "If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"

    "The site we were on is sorta blacktop but the sides have crumbled and it has a slight tilt to it so stepping down out of the camper was tricky as your feet tend to slide in the loose rocks."

    10. Swede Point Park

    13 Reviews
    Madrid, IA
    14 miles
    Website

    "We camped here to be close to the Iowa High Trestle Trail for bicycling and it's very handy for that. Nothing fancy, but has plenty of sites, flush toilets and showers available."

    "Nice little camp ground with easy access to the high trestle bike trail"

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Recent Camping Photos near Saylorville Lake

86 Photos of 107 Saylorville Lake Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Saylorville Lake

531 Reviews of 107 Saylorville Lake Campgrounds

  • Bethanie S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 14, 2025

    Lenon Mill Park

    Lennon Mills

    Quaint campground situated alongside a dam. Fishing is legal and there were quite a few around while I was there. Besides me, there was one other camper. Three tent sites, the rest are for RVs.

    Each site had a picnic table and fire ring. There was a swing set, shelter, modern bathroom (big enough to fit your bike in), water hydrant, and a few access points to the water.

    Two blocks down, you'll find a historic village. Tickets are only $2 per adult. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to browse because they didn't open until 10.

    Self-check in is well marked with the gigantic yellow tube. They promised WiFi but I was able to attend a meeting in my tent without it (T-Mobile).

    If you wander into town, the market has firewood for $5/bundle, as well as other essentials you can cart back to the site with you.

  • Gillian L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Adventureland Campground

    Nice site

    After some confusion with booking (office hours are until 7pm, confirmation email said 9pm) we were able to get ahold of the operations manager at the park who helped us. Pull through paved 50 amp sites, with water and sewage. Picnic table for use. Within view of Adventureland so it was cool to see the rides lit up at night as we parked. Clean park. Will definitely stop by again when we aren’t just passing through!

  • Kent W.
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Howell Station

    One of our favorites

    This is a really nice campground. It’s run by friendly, helpful people. It’s well maintained, the bathrooms are clean, you’re not packed together like sardines, there’s a nice bike/walking trail around the park and (at least when we’ve visited) bald eagles, blue herons and pelicans line the river. It’s just a little over an hour from us so it’s easy to get to.

    We’re trying parks all over Iowa and Howell has been one of our favorites.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Newton KOA

    Highway Roadside Campground Oasis

    Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in very rural Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Fairly EZ access from I-80; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground that is both very clean and well-organized; (3) Despite being next to the highway where we were concerned with errant late-night visitors who had no business being at this CG, there’s excellent security and a feeling of being safe; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the KOA staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are in pretty good condition; (6) If you need anything, there’s a handful of just OK restaurants like Cratty Shack Diner and grocery stores like Hy-Vee and Walmart Supercenter in nearby Newton; (7) Spectacularly clean bathrooms and shower facilities; and (8) Well-stocked catch & release fishing pond

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) You are literally right next to I-80, but the CG sits down below the swooshing traffic, so if you’re not looking, you almost forget that you’re camping next to the busiest highway in Iowa; (2) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees, bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (3) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (4) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (5) Some amenities feel dated and could be replaced and / or refurbished; (6) There’s a fairly nasty industrial park, complete with a junk yard and car mechanic garage with accompanying abandoned cars scattered around the entrance that you’ll have to navigate through before reaching this KOA; (7) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you can convince the staff to let you set up in the shaded area at the north end of the CG; (8) The pool was shut down for maintenance when we visited

    Happy Camping!

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    lakeside casino resort and rv park

    Good for an overnight stop

    This is a casino campground. There are full hookups but no facilities. No trees, sites very close together. It’s essentially a parking lot with hookups.

    It’s adjacent to a truck stop and right off the interstate.

    If you are traveling I35 and it’s convenient for an overnight rest, it’s well worth the cost. Otherwise, unless the casino is your destination, find a more traditional campground

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Winterset City Park

    Peaceful

    Our first time staying here and we extended twice because we like the area so much. It’s been a peaceful two weeks and we love the town of Winterset. The campground has a variety of FHU and or just W& E, also some shared water.

  • Bethanie S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Sportsman Park

    Sportsman Park

    Dawson is such a cute little park. I rented a primitive tent site for two nights and it was $20. The self-registration was super simple!

    They say there’s a live-in park employee. I never met him/her, which was a bummer. Theres two cabins, ten electric sights and five primitive, a shelter, a playground with slides and swings, and a bigger building you can reserve. I clocked four water spouts.

    The place was well maintained, people were polite, modern restrooms and showers. Everything was handicap accessible. You can tell the employees put a lot of care into their work. So glad I was able to stay here.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    River Oaks RV Park

    Nice campground. Clean. Well kept.

    We stayed here to go to the Iowa State Fair. It was easy to park here and catch a shuttle to the fair.

Guide to Saylorville Lake

Camping near Saylorville Lake, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something to offer.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Ledges State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "The campground is well kept but busy in the summer months with it being a popular hiking destination for Des Moines locals." The trails provide a great way to enjoy nature and get some exercise.
  • Fishing: Head to Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground for some fishing fun. A reviewer noted, "Clean, level sites, close to fishing, it was fun watching the water come through the dam." This spot is perfect for anglers looking to catch some fish.
  • Water Activities: Visit Prairie Flower Recreation Area for a day by the water. One camper shared, "Nice beach down the road and some Greenway trails." It's a great place to relax and enjoy the sun.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Des Moines West KOA Holiday. A reviewer said, "Bathhouses were clean and private." Clean restrooms make a big difference when camping.
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the roomy sites at Cherry Glen Campground. One visitor mentioned, "This campground is big and clean. It’s pretty peaceful & quiet." Spacious sites allow for a more comfortable camping experience.
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often rave about the helpful hosts at Jester County Park. A review stated, "We love it here people are great price is Right." Friendly staff can make your stay much more enjoyable.

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: If you rely on your phone, be aware that cell coverage can be spotty. A camper at Ledges State Park Campground mentioned, "Cell coverage is terrible out here, and there is no WIFI to help keep people connected." It's a good idea to plan ahead.
  • Busy Seasons: Expect crowds during peak times. A visitor at Walnut Woods State Park Campground noted, "The campground was nice and well maintained with walking trails." However, it can fill up quickly, especially in summer.
  • No Showers at Some Campgrounds: Not all campgrounds have shower facilities. For example, Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground lacks showers, so be prepared for that if you choose to stay there.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Playgrounds: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly amenities. Jester County Park has a kids' playground, making it a great choice for families. One reviewer said, "Showers are hot every time it’s a wonderful place to be."
  • Group Sites: Consider campgrounds that offer group sites for family gatherings. Yellow Banks County Park has spacious sites, and a camper noted, "Large spacious sites with a fire ring and picnic table."
  • Nature Activities: Engage kids with nature activities. At Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground, one camper mentioned, "The lake is beautiful and the path around it is in great shape!" This can keep kids entertained and active.

Tips from RVers:

  • Level Sites: Look for campgrounds with level sites for easier setup. A reviewer at Des Moines West KOA Holiday mentioned, "Gravel sites require some leveling." This can save you time and hassle.
  • Dump Stations: Ensure the campground has a dump station. Walnut Woods State Park Campground offers a dump station, which is a big plus for RVers. A camper noted, "Dump station is at the entrance of the CG."
  • Electric Hookups: Check for electric hookups if you need power. Campgrounds like Cherry Glen Campground provide these amenities, making it easier to enjoy your stay. A visitor shared, "Good basic camping."

Camping near Saylorville Lake, Iowa, has a lot to offer, from beautiful parks to friendly campgrounds. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, you'll find a spot that suits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Saylorville Lake in Iowa?

Camping costs at Saylorville Lake are quite reasonable. At Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground, sites are described as inexpensive and open to everyone. Cherry Glen Campground offers tent sites for approximately $11 with a discount available for National Parks pass holders. As Army Corps of Engineers properties, most campgrounds around Saylorville Lake provide similar pricing structures with discounts for pass holders. RV sites typically cost more than tent sites, but remain affordable compared to private campgrounds. Exact prices may vary by season, site type, and amenities, so checking the official reservation system for current rates is recommended.

What campgrounds are available at Saylorville Lake?

Saylorville Lake offers several well-maintained campgrounds managed primarily by the Army Corps of Engineers. The main options include Cherry Glen Campground and Prairie Flower Recreation Area, both featuring numerous sites with lake views. Additional campgrounds include Bob Shelter Recreation Area behind the dam, Acorn Valley (typically closed after Labor Day), and Jester County Park operated by the county. These campgrounds provide a mix of RV and tent sites, with varying levels of access to lake activities, trails, and facilities. Some areas get particularly busy during weekends and holidays when boaters frequent the lake, so weekday visits may offer a more peaceful experience.

When is the best time of year to camp at Saylorville Lake?

The best time to camp at Saylorville Lake is during weekdays from late spring through early fall. Jester County Park and other campgrounds are particularly pleasant during May-June and September-October when temperatures are moderate and crowds are thinner. Summer weekends tend to be very busy with boaters and recreational visitors. Some campgrounds like Acorn Valley close after Labor Day, so verify operational dates if planning a fall visit. Be aware that during peak summer months, Saylorville Lake can experience blue-green algae blooms from agricultural runoff, potentially limiting water activities. Spring offers beautiful scenery as nature awakens, while fall provides colorful foliage along the trails and lakeshores.

What amenities are offered at Cherry Glen campsite on Saylorville Lake?

Cherry Glen Campground offers a comprehensive set of amenities for campers. The facilities include clean, modern restrooms and plenty of shade throughout the campground. Sites are generally spacious, though some are closer together than others. Many campsites provide views of Saylorville Lake, enhancing the camping experience. The campground is well-managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and known for being clean and well-maintained. Sites accommodate both tents and RVs, with good cell service available throughout the area. For the best experience, consider requesting sites on the back side of the campground for more privacy, especially during weekends when the area becomes busy with boaters.

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